Year in Review Highlights |
As we usher in the new year, Sac Metro Air District (Air District) staff can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey we've shared throughout 2023.
Through Air District initiatives, incentive funds, and local partnerships, the Sacramento region has witnessed a broad spectrum of new investments, commitments, and efforts dedicated to achieving cleaner air. From playing an integral role in reinforcing our region’s commitment to environmental stewardship through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program to investing in innovative zero-emission technology to working to streamline permitting processes and expanding our air monitoring network, the Air District has made noteworthy strides toward a clean air and low-carbon future for all!
Watch this short video highlighting some of the Air District’s 2023 activities.
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Annual Reporting Due January 31
Permitted stationary sources must report emission information to the Sac Metro Air District to comply with various local, state, and federal requirements. To comply with these mandates, the Air District requires all permitted stationary sources to submit an Annual Report by January 31 of every calendar year.
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Sacramento Regional Leaders Join the California Sub-National Delegation to COP28 |
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(L-R) SMUD Director Ward 1 Brandon Rose, Sac Metro Air District Air Pollution Control Officer Alberto Ayala, SMUD CEO and General Manager Paul Lao, SMUD Board President Heidi Sanborn, SMUD Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer Laura Lewis, Sac Metro Air District Board Vice Chair and City of Folsom Vice Mayor Sarah Aquino, Sac Metro Air District Transportation and Climate Change Division Manager Jaime Lemus, and Climate Bonds Initiative Senior Advisor Michael Paparian attend COP28 in December |
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Last month, a group of local leaders from the Air District and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) joined the California sub-national delegation that participated in the 28th annual Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
COP brings together states, regional organizations, and non-state actors. Air District representation included Board Vice Chair and City of Folsom Vice Mayor Sarah Aquino, Executive Director Alberto Ayala, and Transportation and Climate Change Division Manager Jaime Lemus. SMUD was represented by its Board President Heidi Sanborn, Board Member Brandon Rose, CEO Paul Lau, and Chief Counsel Laura Lewis. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas led the California delegation, which included several legislators and state officials. Sacramento representatives were active in various forums and discussions to share, learn, and connect.
Participation in COP helps break the binary of global versus local action and can lead to better opportunities for the growing list of initiatives advancing air quality and the clean energy transition in the greater Sacramento region. Takeaways with strong local connection included the transition away from fossil fuels in a “just and orderly manner,” increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency, the role of carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, and a first global goal on adaptation. On display were the following initiatives by the Air District:
Hydrogen was a prominent topic and COP28 included 145 meetings specifically on the subject. The need to do more and faster was a common theme, realizing that potential benefits far outweigh higher initial costs. Hard to abate sectors like steel, cement, and petrochemicals, will need a secured large-scale supply of hydrogen; however, reaching scale apparently faces many roadblocks from complex and diverse local government permitting requirements.
Congratulations to SMUD for their leadership and for joining the global energy industry in the launch of the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance, representing a new framework for global cooperation on renewables.
The youth voice at COP28 was also loud and clear. Youths demand to be heard and new educational curriculums that are relevant to the environment and working with neighbors. Jackline Wambua, a student at Stanford University and winner of UAE’s 2024 Zayed Sustainability Prize Voices of Youth says “…we all need to fall in love with complexity because making change is hard, unclear, and sometimes lonely…but as change makers, we need to continue onward and keep thinking outside the box.”
For more on COP28, please visit the conference website. |
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Joint Board Meeting Highlights Interagency Cooperation and Commitment to Climate Action
In a first-of-its-kind joint board meeting on November 9, 2023, the Air District, Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT), and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) adopted a resolution underscoring the four-agency group’s shared dedication to fostering interagency collaboration to address crucial issues related to land use, transportation, air quality, and climate.
Recognizing that these issues are interconnected, the four-agency group is committed to working together to develop comprehensive strategies that consider the broader implications of their actions. This collaborative approach aims to leverage the resources, strengths, and expertise of each organization to create more effective and sustainable solutions.
The joint commitment also aligns with broader regional efforts to combat climate change through the Air District’s leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program in the Sacramento region, with the resulting Priority Climate Action Plan serving as a strategic framework to guide cooperative actions. |
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Sac Metro Air District to Release Funds For Clean Vehicle Incentives
The Air District will begin accepting applications this spring for its Low Emission Vehicle Incentive Program to fund zero-emission trucks and buses, clean farm equipment, EV charging stations, land and garden equipment, and other innovative clean air projects. The District has more than $12 million in funds to allocate.
A new online application system will be opened to receive funding requests that promote investments in cleaner equipment in the greater Sacramento Valley for small and large businesses, public fleets, community organizations, and other projects that provide air and climate emission reductions.
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Check Before You Burn Continues Through February 29
The Air District's annual Check Before You Burn runs from November 1 through the end of February each year. During this time, wood burning in fireplaces, wood stoves, inserts, and pellet stoves is restricted when fine particle pollution (PM2.5) is forecast to be high. This is a critical program to protect residents’ health as wood burning causes over 50 percent of winter pollution in Sacramento County and unnecessarily exposes residents to harmful particle pollution.
This law applies to residents and businesses in unincorporated Sacramento County, and the Cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova, and Sacramento. Remember, Check Before You Burn is a law in Sacramento County and penalties apply for violations.
Check the daily burn day status by visiting AirQuality.org/CBYB or by calling 1-877-NO-BURN-5. To report a wood-burning violation please call 800-880-9025 or file a complaint here. |
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